Three-dimensional photovoltaic module

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of photovoltaic solar energy. More specifically, it concerns a three-dimensional photovoltaic module.

In the field of photovoltaic solar energy, it is known to use, in general, two-dimensional photovoltaic panels constituted by the superposition of several layers generally consisting from top to bottom of:

The major drawback of this type of photovoltaic panels lies in the low amount of energy produced per m. Indeed, with a two-dimensional photovoltaic panel, the amount of energy produced per mis not optimized.

In addition, this type of photovoltaic panel does not have a uniform energy production throughout the day. Indeed, this production follows a Gaussian law, maximum when the Sun is at its highest point, and lower the rest of the day and in particular at the beginning and end of the day.

Moreover, the classic solution requires orienting the photovoltaic panel optimally with respect to solar radiation, which is not always easy depending on the configuration of the building receiving such a photovoltaic panel.

To overcome such drawbacks, it is known to make a three-dimensional photovoltaic module including:

Such a configuration of the three-dimensional photovoltaic module allows increasing the developed surface covered with active photovoltaic material, and therefore producing, when the Sun is at its culmination point and the three-dimensional photovoltaic module is arranged on a horizontal surface, more energy per unit area than a conventional photovoltaic panel.

However, because of the shadows generated by the three-dimensional support structure over the Sun's course throughout a day, the amount of energy produced annually by such a three-dimensional photovoltaic module is not optimal. In addition, at some time points of the Sun's course, some of the photovoltaic coatings are not insulated and generate resistive loads which oppose the energy provided by the insulated photovoltaic coatings, which further limits the amount of energy produced annually by such a three-dimensional photovoltaic module.

Furthermore, when a plurality of three-dimensional photovoltaic modules of the aforementioned type are assembled together to form a photovoltaic device, each three-dimensional support structure generates, over the course of the Sun, shadows, even darkness, on the photovoltaic coatings of the adjacent three-dimensional photovoltaic modules, which therefore considerably limits the amount of energy produced annually by such a photovoltaic device.

The present disclosure aims to overcome the aforementioned draw backs.

Hence, the technical problem at the origin of the disclosure consists in providing a three-dimensional photovoltaic module allowing producing more energy per unit area annually than a conventional three-dimensional photovoltaic module.

To this end, the present disclosure relates to a three-dimensional photovoltaic module including:

Such a configuration of the three-dimensional support structure, and therefore of the orientation of the different photovoltaic coatings, allows maximizing the insulated surface of the three-dimensional photovoltaic module at each point of the Sun's course, and therefore capturing an amount of significant energy originating from the Sun, and that being so without requiring any movement mechanism configured to modify the orientation of the three-dimensional photovoltaic module according to the position of the Sun.

In particular, the arrangement of the support elements limits the phenomenon of cast shadows generated by each support element on the other support elements of the three-dimensional support structure, and therefore on the photovoltaic coatings arranged on the support faces of the other support elements of the three-dimensional support structure, while enabling a good light penetration within the three-dimensional photovoltaic module.

In addition, given the arrangement of the support elements, and therefore the support faces, all the photovoltaic coatings are at least partially simultaneously insulated over a significant portion of the Sun's course, which ensures better regularity of the production of energy throughout a day (and in particular during the ascending and descending phases of the Sun) and therefore also throughout the year. The arrangement of the support elements also allows producing electricity earlier in the day and until later in the day compared to the three-dimensional photovoltaic modules of the prior art.

Furthermore, when a photovoltaic coating is not directly insulated (due to the own shadow generated by the respective support element), it is nevertheless capable of capturing at least part of the light reflected by photovoltaic coatings provided on other support elements. In other words, the three-dimensional photovoltaic module according to the present disclosure considerably limits the risks of darkness generated by each support element on the photovoltaic coatings arranged on the support faces of the other support elements. Finally, even when a photovoltaic coating provided on a support element is neither directly nor indirectly insulated, this represents only a small part of the photovoltaic coatings belonging to the three-dimensional photovoltaic module which is not insolated.

Consequently, the three-dimensional photovoltaic module allows producing, not only instantaneously, but above all annually, more energy per unit area than a conventional photovoltaic panel and also than a conventional three-dimensional photovoltaic module.

The three-dimensional photovoltaic module may further have one or more of the following features, considered alone or in combination.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the ratio of the developed surface of the support faces of the support elements to the surface on the ground occupied by the three-dimensional photovoltaic module is greater than 3, and for example comprised between 4 and 6, and advantageously between 4.5 and 5.5. These arrangements ensure a relatively high energy production, per unit area, compared to the energy produced, per unit area, by a three-dimensional photovoltaic module of the prior art.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the central axis of the three-dimensional support structure is configured to extend substantially vertically when the three-dimensional photovoltaic module is arranged on a horizontal surface.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the photovoltaic coatings of said plurality of photovoltaic coatings are distinct from each other and are connected in series and/or in parallel.

According to another embodiment of the disclosure, at least one photovoltaic coating, and for example each of the photovoltaic coatings, of said plurality of photovoltaic coatings is flexible.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, each photovoltaic coating comprises a plurality of photovoltaic cells connected in parallel and/or in series.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the vertices of the support elements are distributed, and for example evenly distributed, around the central axis of the three-dimensional support structure.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the vertices of the support elements are equidistant from the central axis of the three-dimensional support structure. In other words, the vertices of the support elements are arranged on a circle centered on the central axis of the three-dimensional support structure.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the ridge lines are secant at an intersection point located substantially on the central axis of the three-dimensional support structure.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, each ridge line is rectilinear.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the ridge lines are evenly distributed around the central axis of the three-dimensional support structure.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, each of the ridge lines is inclined with respect to the central axis by an angle of inclination comprised between 10 and 40°, advantageously between 20 and 30°, and for example around 26°.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, each of the support faces has a generally triangular shape.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, each support face includes a first edge extending along the respective ridge line, a second edge extending up to the vertex of the respective support element and a third edge opposite to the vertex of the respective support element. Advantageously, the second edge of each support face has an end which is opposite to the respective vertex and which is closer to the central axis than the respective vertex.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the second edge of each support face is inclined with respect to the central axis of the three-dimensional support structure, such that the end of said second edge, which is opposite to the respective vertex, is closer to the central axis than the respective vertex.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, each support face of each support element is inclined, with respect to a respective reference plane which is parallel to the central axis and which passes through the third edge of said support face, with an angle of inclination comprised between 5 and 10°, and for example around 7°.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the first edge of each support face has a length comprised between 35 and 55 mm, and advantageously between 40 and 50 mm, and for example around 44 mm.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the second edge of each support face has a length comprised between 55 and 75 mm, and advantageously between 60 and 70 mm, and for example around 65 mm.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the third edge of each support face has a length comprised between 25 and 45 mm, and advantageously between 30 and 40 mm, and for example around 34 mm.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the number of support elements is comprised between 3 and 6.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, for each pair of adjacent support elements of the three-dimensional support structure, the adjacent support faces of the two adjacent support elements are located opposite each other.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, for each pair of adjacent support elements of the three-dimensional support structure, the adjacent support faces of the two adjacent support elements are connected to each other along a connection area which is inclined with respect to the central axis of the three-dimensional support structure and which extends downwards while getting away from the central axis of the three-dimensional support structure.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, all the support faces of the support elements have different orientations.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the two support faces of each support element are symmetrical with respect to a respective plane of symmetry passing through the respective ridge line.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the planes of symmetry of the support elements are secant according to an intersection line which is substantially coincident with the central axis of the three-dimensional support structure.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, each support element has a plane of symmetry passing through the respective ridge line.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, each support element has, seen from above, a triangular shape, and for example an equilateral triangular shape. In other words, an orthogonal projection of all points of a support element on a reference plane perpendicular to the central axis of the three-dimensional support structure defines a triangular shaped surface, and preferably an equilateral triangular shape.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a ratio of the first edge of each support face to one side of the equilateral triangular shape is comprised between 1.7 and 2.2, advantageously between 1.8 and 2, and for example between 1.90 and 1.95.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a ratio of the second edge of each support face to one side of the equilateral triangular shape is comprised between 2.7 and 3, advantageously between 2.8 and 2.9, and for example around 2.86.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a ratio of the third edge of each support face to one side of the equilateral triangular shape is comprised between 1.2 and 1.8, advantageously between 1.3 and 1.7, and still advantageously between 1.4 and 1.6. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a ratio of the height of the three-dimensional photovoltaic module to one side of the equilateral triangular shape is comprised between 2.5 and 3.5, advantageously between 2.8 and 3.3, and by example between 3 and 3.1.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the three-dimensional photovoltaic module further includes a base which is located below the three-dimensional support structure and which defines, at least partially, an inner housing in which electrically-conductive wires, connected to the photovoltaic coatings, are at least partially housed.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the base has a polygonal shape, and for example generally hexagonal.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the three-dimensional support structure is made in one-piece.